Metal structural member



Feb. 19, 1924; 1,484,070

W. E. MAST METAL STRUCTURAL MEMBER Filed May 9, 1923 Afro/WE) Patented Feb. 19, 1924.

UNITED STATES nseam PATENT, ries;

WILLIAM E. Mass, or xansns CITY, MISSOURI.

METAL STRUCTURAL MEMBER.

Application filed May 9,

To all whomc't may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM E. MAST, a' citizen of the United States, residing at Kansas City,'in the county of Jackson and State ofMissouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Metal Structural Members; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to metal structural members and particularly to a metal structural member adapted for a multiplicity of uses. The invention comprehends a relatively thin sheet of metal from which may be struck an outstanding step member, appropriately placed with respect to the sheet from which it is struck having a brace, the brace, the step member, and the sheet being integral, and while the invention is prima rily intended for use as aladder, it is capable of serving as a bracket or rest for supporting beams, shelves, or the like. I, therefore, do not wish to be limited to any particular application of my invention, and I would have it understood that by relatively thin sheet I contemplate. any thickness of metal capable of having the step member struck therefrom.

The novel construction of the invention will be apparent by reference to the following description in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a sheet or strip from which the steps have been struck in accordance with my invention, and Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 22 of Fig. 1. Referring now to the drawings by numerals of reference, 1 designates a sheet or strip of appropriate dimensions from which the step members 2 are struck. The step members are formed by punching or shearing two longitudinal side edges, 3 and 4, and a transverse end member, 5, the transverse end member preferably having a lug or projecting portion 6 formed thereon. The opposite end of the step member forms a connection between the step member and the, sheet or strip 1 so that the step member can be bent outwardly away from the orifice 7 formed by bending the step member outwardly. A slot 8 is formed longitudinally 1923. Serial No. 637,700.

of the step member'2 to provide a diagonal brace, 9, the free end of which consists of metal removed from the sheet beyond the attached end of the step member, providing a reduced portion 10 of the slot 8 and'a tongue ll'of less width than the brace menr her 9, so that'when the tongue is introduced into the opening 12 in the sheet or strip, it can be riveted by upstanding the end to provide the head 18. The shoulders 14 and 15 at the end of the brace 9 bear against one face of the sheet or strip, the head 18 forming a rigidconnection' with the sheet or strip. Consequently, the strip member is rigidly fastened or braced with respect to the sheet or strip of metal from which it is struck. The end lug or projection 6 acts as a stop to prevent slipping of the object resting upon the step.

In one aspect of my invention, I may bend the step members outwardly in alternately opposite directions to provide right and left step members for the purpose of forming a ladder. In that event, the device will be constructed from strips or sheets of appropriate length which may be fastened together by splice plates, 16 and 17, or other appropriate connections, it being observed that any number ofstrips may be fastened end to end to provide the requisite length, and if the ladder is relatively long, sections will be braced with suitable brackets as indicated at 18 and 19, Fig. 1.

If the device is to be used as a bracket for supporting shelves, scaffolding, or the like,

the step may be cut at one length so that s only one step member will be provided at each length of the strip, and it will be ap parent that other obvious modifications will be made without departing from the spirit of the invention.

It is to be observed that the step member and its brace may be punched or struck out from the sheet of metal without waste, the only unused part of the strip being that struck out to form the hole 12 for the rivet end 11.

As above indicated, I do not wish to be limited to any particular use of the invention, although it is primarily. intended as a ladder to provide an inexpensive fire escape or an inexpensive ladder for the interior of buildings, ships, for the outside of large tanks, about machinery, and, in fact, anywhere where an inexpensive means is desirable and where space is a factor, it being of the opening 7, will constitute hand holds to assist in the ascentandthe descent of the ladder.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is: I

1. A metal structural member consisting of a sheet of metal having an outstanding step inemberistruck therefrom, the; outstan ding step member having a diagonal brace struck fromit, provided on itsend with a means forfastening itto the sheet.

2. A metal structural :member comprising a sheet having an outstandingstep :member struck therefrom With: an upstanding-dug on its end and adiagonal brace integral'with the step. and-engaging the sheet.

3. Ainetal structuralinember comprising an elongated sheet, having outstanding step members on opposite. sides in alternate relation, the step members being struclt from the sheet, and abrace between the ends of the step members and the sheet.

4. A metal structural member comprising an elongated sheet having outstanding step members struck therefrom and arranged 1n alternate relation on opposite sides of the sheet, and upstanding lugs on the ends of the step members, the side barsof the re-,

spective openings resultingjffrm the struck-'- outstep members constituting hand holds.

5. A metal structural membercornprising a sheet having step memberv struclr. theree from, one end of'the step meniberbeing integral With the sheet, a brace struck from the step member, the brace being-integral with the' step member and having a con stricted end rigidly secured to the sheet;

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

VILLIAM E. MAST. 

